SPRINGVALE — An appearance by U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree at Partners For a Hunger-Free York County inspired gardeners, organic farmers and food pantry coordinators to pack into the organization’s conference room in Springvale Thursday to hear the Congresswoman talk about her proposed changes to the federal Farm Bill.

Pingree’s bill, the Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act, proposes several reforms to the Farm Bill, including a focus on investment in infrastructure, creating insurance plans for diversified farms, helping schools buy local food and allowing people to utilize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program at farmer’s markets.

“It’s sobering to hear a conversation about hunger in America,” Pingree told the packed room, citing her pre-congressional career in farming as a fundamental linchpin of her concern. “Maine has a strong agricultural tradition, but has really moved away from that in recent years.”

Of late, she said, the state has seen a push back toward a focus on organic farming and buying from local food sources. That, she said, has been a cornerstone of her recent commitment to pushing the bill through Congress, where it currently has 65 co-sponsors in the House and Senate combined. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio has introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

“We find people saying to us, ”˜This is a big issue in our home district,’” said Pingree. “The timing is right. This is what consumers are interested in.”

Making reference to the sometimes contentious nature of inter-congressional politics, Pingree hesitated to make a prediction on the bill’s fate ”“ when and if it would pass, and what the final version would look like if it did. The political wrangling over the bill, she said, has not been borne out of the left-versus-right divide that has become an almost ingrained facet of American government.

Rather, she said, resistance to the bill has come from a food production and delivery system that has been controlled by national, corporate interests who have a financial stake in maintaining the status quo. That makes it difficult for local organic farmers to make a living, and for consumers to easily find locally grown food.

“Consumers want to move this way,” said Pingree. “But it’s hard. There’s been a huge corporate infrastructure built around how we do things.”

Jordan Pike, an organic farmer who helps organize farmer’s markets in Sanford and Springvale, suggested revisions for the bill that would make it easier for local food growers to do business. Currently, he said, suppliers at farmer’s markets are unable to accept food stamps, which limits access for low-income families.

“As a farmer, I’m a big fan of where-the-rubber-meets-the-road solutions,” he said.

With food sources and nutrition the focus of the day, Pingree also took the time to express regret over recent county-wide budget cuts to food pantries. Mary Doyle of York County Shelter Programs echoed the cry for a renewed emphasis on helping the shelters thrive, saying, “With the very drastic cuts in county funding, we’re at a stage where we really need some help.”

Kristine Jenkins, coordinator for Partners For a Hunger-Free York County, agreed that the cuts have been a detriment to food assistance programs, and expressed support for Pingree’s Farm Bill alterations, which makes tweaks to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP is a federal aid program, administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that provides financial assistance for food purchasing for low- to no-income families.

According to information provided by Gallup and the Food Research and Action Fund, more than 20 percent of households with children in York County report an inability to afford enough food.

“There have been dramatic increases in the number of people who need food,” said Jenkins.

— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 319 or jlagasse@journaltribune.com.